The difficulty in figuring out which model typewriter is being used comes from the view of that shot being from the side, where most of the clearest differences of the two models is not as visible, leaving what can be seen up to interpretation. However, I think I have found an image that clears up the typewriter debate issue.Here is a behind the scenes pic from the show.

There are two typewriters here that you very clearly see the front of.At the desk of the actress wearing the green dress, closest to the photographer, the curvature on the front of the machine clearly IDs it as a Selectric I

Selectric I

So on that desk, in front of that actress, it clear from this view which typewriter it is.

However, if you look at the machine on the desk in front of the woman in the dark blue dress with her back to the photographer, the shape on the casing in the front very clearly is that of a Selectric IISelectric II

What to conclude from this? Both kind of typewriter models are used on the set. Mad Men is a period piece. Finding a whole office worth of period appropriate typewriters or any other obscure prop is very, very difficult. When was the last time any of you even saw a typewriter as much as fifteen years old, let alone over forty? Often times even the biggest budgeted period piece movie will fudge a bit with their props; a keen eye can spot at least a ten of these kinds of things in any given period piece. Telephones, cars, and TVs are the common props this is done with. And guns- especially in westerns.If they really wanted to, they could get it absolutely right, and absolutely perfect. But it would take a lot of time, which means a lot a of money, and ultimately its not totally worth it, becuase quite simply, if the majoirty of the audience actually noticed this enough distract them from the actual story going on, then the show would have much, much bigger problems.

I remember on 9/11/01, the redsox were going to play these rays down here, I had tickets to 2 out of 3 games and by the time they made them up down here,I was on vacation in NH. Also it appears that tito has really given up on tek as little as he plays him.

The Sox will win tonight, this is assumed. I would like to ruin Tampa Bay's future of the franchise as well.

I just moved down to Louisville, KY for grad school and it is boring, so I'm going to the Louisville Bats vs. Durham Bulls playoff game this evening, where top TB prospect Desmond Jennings will be showing his stuff for scouts. What can I do to make this guy go insane a la Delmon Young and throw a bat at an umpire or Elijah Dukes and threaten to kill bitches? Somebody come up with a great heckling ploy in the next 20 minutes so I can make this guy join Young and Elijah in the annals of TB OF prospect infamy, ruin a future star for the franchise and put them back in the basement where they belong.

The difficulty in figuring out which model typewriter is being used comes from the view of that shot being from the side, where most of the clearest differences of the two models is not as visible, leaving what can be seen up to interpretation. However, I think I have found an image that clears up the typewriter debate issue.Here is a behind the scenes pic from the show.

There are two typewriters here that you very clearly see the front of.At the desk of the actress wearing the green dress, closest to the photographer, the curvature on the front of the machine clearly IDs it as a Selectric I

Selectric I

So on that desk, in front of that actress, it clear from this view which typewriter it is.

However, if you look at the machine on the desk in front of the woman in the dark blue dress with her back to the photographer, the shape on the casing in the front very clearly is that of a Selectric IISelectric II

What to conclude from this? Both kind of typewriter models are used on the set. Mad Men is a period piece. Finding a whole office worth of period appropriate typewriters or any other obscure prop is very, very difficult. When was the last time any of you even saw a typewriter as much as fifteen years old, let alone over forty? Often times even the biggest budgeted period piece movie will fudge a bit with their props; a keen eye can spot at least a ten of these kinds of things in any given period piece. Telephones, cars, and TVs are the common props this is done with. And guns- especially in westerns.If they really wanted to, they could get it absolutely right, and absolutely perfect. But it would take a lot of time, which means a lot a of money, and ultimately its not totally worth it, becuase quite simply, if the majoirty of the audience actually noticed this enough distract them from the actual story going on, then the show would have much, much bigger problems.

Thank you for the primer on the ins and outs of Hollywood productions.

I live in Los Angeles. If you had bothered to look at the location, you would see it says, 'Probably in Traffic'. You should have then surmised that I live in LA and that hence, I'm in the business. Do your research.

I know how difficult it can be to find 3 matching Victorian snuff boxes. On a Sunday. Before a Holiday. In a snowstorm. I do think you owe everyone in this industry an apology if you're suggesting that we sometimes 'fudge a bit', or deliver anything less than total authenticity. I have never been part of a production that substitutes iced tea for whiskey. Never. Not on my watch, mister.

I'm not arguing about the typewriter behind the girl in the blue that heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I'm arguing about the typewriter in the OP.

That was the peak of her hottness. And my god... it was an amazing peek.

Hottness with two t's is hotter than with one t, right? I saw a misspell once of the word triple, guy wrote tripple. I said while you're at it, you should make it trippple. A couple of those each for Ellsbury, Pedroia and JD tonight, please.

The Sox will win tonight, this is assumed. I would like to ruin Tampa Bay's future of the franchise as well.

I just moved down to Louisville, KY for grad school and it is boring, so I'm going to the Louisville Bats vs. Durham Bulls playoff game this evening, where top TB prospect Desmond Jennings will be showing his stuff for scouts. What can I do to make this guy go insane a la Delmon Young and throw a bat at an umpire or Elijah Dukes and threaten to kill bitches? Somebody come up with a great heckling ploy in the next 20 minutes so I can make this guy join Young and Elijah in the annals of TB OF prospect infamy, ruin a future star for the franchise and put them back in the basement where they belong.

wow while your at it just give him a bag of smack so he can go the Hamilton route...

Hottness with two t's is hotter than with one t, right? I saw a misspell once of the word triple, guy wrote tripple. I said while you're at it, you should make it trippple. A couple of those each for Ellsbury, Pedroia and JD tonight, please.

And here I thought I was being clever with an intentional misspelling of peak the second time around.

Thank you for the primer on the ins and outs of Hollywood productions.

I live in Los Angeles. If you had bothered to look at the location, you would see it says, 'Probably in Traffic'. You should have then surmised that I live in LA and that hence, I'm in the business. Do your research.

I know how difficult it can be to find 3 matching Victorian snuff boxes. On a Sunday. Before a Holiday. In a snowstorm. I do think you owe everyone in this industry an apology if you're suggesting that we sometimes 'fudge a bit', or deliver anything less than total authenticity. I have never been part of a production that substitutes iced tea for whiskey. Never. Not on my watch, mister.

I'm not arguing about the typewriter behind the girl in the blue that heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I'm arguing about the typewriter in the OP.

Solid Platen knob. Selectric II.

Book it.

I'm not sure if you're pulling my leg here. Again, I call for someone to establish a font for sarcasm/satire.

But just in case you're not, few quick points before I go watch the game in the other room:

1) Continuity errors and 'fudging' abound in film. Go to this site: Movie Mistakes it is just one of a thousand plus websites that detail continuity errors on film and television. Do a google search on continuity errors in film and you'll get a lot more of them.

2) The Selectric II, as someone pointed out orginally, was not introduced until 1973. So if you maintain that is in fact what is on the desk in that picture, then, well, you are conceding that they have 'fudged a bit'.

3) From that website, regarding the typewriter in question, from the very scene in question:

QUOTE

When the new secretary is being shown around the office, the cover is slipped off an IBM Selectric typewriter. She is told not to be afraid of the new technology, it was made easy enough for a woman to use. The episode takes place in March 1960 (a calendar is shown) and the IBM Selectric wasn't introduced until 1961.

So not only would a Selectric II be a 'fudge' but even the Selectric I would be one.